Multibreak electric switch



Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,296

w. s. EDSALL MULTIBREAK ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 1, 1925 lire/71202". W 's. w

Patented Dec. 25, 1928..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. EDBALL, OI BOSTON, HASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- HENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

rroL'rmmiax ELECTRIC swr'rcn.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,990.

This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to that type of electric switch wherein the circuit is interrupted at a plurality of serially-connected points.

An ob'ect of this invention is the provision 0 an improved form of movable switch member especially characterized a strong and rigid construction,particularly in the manner of supporting andelectrically connecting the movable arcing members. 7

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction and operation. of electric switches.

Certain features of this invention are disclosed in a co-pending application of Arthur C. Kelle, Serial No. 19,988, filed April 1, 1925, and assigned to Condit Electrical Manufacturing Company.

Fig. 1 is a erspective able and stationary switch members of an electric switch in which the invention is incorporated.

Fi 2 is a plan view of the movable switch mem erembodying'the invention.

Fig. 3 isa side elevation of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5-501? 2..

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail along line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The electric switch with which the invention is particularly concerned includes the stationary switch members 10 and 12 which terminate in inverted brush members 14 and 16. Said brush members are adapted to be bridged by the movable bridging member and carry the current. Brackets 18 and 20 are fixed to and are electrically connected with the lower ends of said switch membersand are extended laterally from similar sides thereof, and depending and outwardly reflexed stationary arcing members 22' and 24 are fixed detachably to and areelectrically connected with said brackets. An insulating pillar 26 is disposed on the opposite side spacing of the arcing members is such that detail of the mov-.

The movable switch member includes an' insulated supporting rod 34 which is disposed for movement in a vertical direction arcs in between the brush members. A supporting member or bracket 36 is fixed to the lower end of said rod and includes a horizontallydisposed plate 38. Spaced arms 39 and 40 are formed integrally with said plate and extend downwardly and outwardly in the samedirection from said plate; and similar arms 42 and 44 extend downwardly and outwardly from said plate in the opposite direction. Said arms are adapted to support the movable arcing members.

The 'movable bridging member comprises a plurality of parallel bars 46 arranged on edge and disposed beneath said plate 38 and between said arms. are pivoted on a pivot pin 48 which extends loosely through the middle'of said barsand is supported in said arms. Said bars may be maintained in relatively closely spaced relation by spacing discs J50 disposed on said pin. Said bars are adapted to engage the brush members 14 and 16 and thereby bridge and carry the current, between them. A slight amount of pivotal movement is permitted of the bars. whereby each bar 'may independently adjust itself incontact with the brush members; and said plate 38 is adapted to limit the extent of pivotal movement;

The supporting means for the movable arcing members includes the two rods 54 and .56. Said rods are here shown as approximately square in cross-section and each is formed with the square metal bar 58 and the square insulating enclosing sheath 60 having a side wall of'substantial thickness. The ends of said pairs of arms 39, 40; and 42, 44' are formed with aligned square apertures 62 therein and said rods are received in the apertures in said arms and extend outwardly beyond and on o posite sides of said arms. Slots 64 extendt rough the ends of said arms into said apertures and bolts66 Said bars tionary switch member.

are passed through the slotted ends. whereby to clamp said rods firmly to said arms.

The ends of the square conducting bars 58 of said insulated rods 5t and 56 extend outwardly beyond the insulating: sheaths 60 thereo'l and the movable areiu; members 68. TO. 72, 7% are carried by said exposed ends.

Said arcingmembers are similar in onstruetion and in lude contact members each of which is tired to the upper end ct a laminated resilient conducting member T6, which member may be termed in. struck-out portion '78 intermediate ends whereby to provide increased tlexihilitr to said member. The lower end of said memher is fixed to and electrically connected with an attaching member and said attaching member has a projection 82 which adapted to overlie said condictine member 76 and in strucleout portion and the arcing member whereby to restri t its flexing movement in o direction. A fiat spring; member 84C ma be disposed to engage said conducting member on the other side thereof whereby to provide yielding support therefor.

Said attaching member formed \"th :1 square aperture in which the exposed end of one 0 said rods 58 is adapted to be received. A slot 86 may =Xtend into said aperture and the slotted end of the attachin .e member may be clamped removnbly in position on said rod 58 by a bolt 88. Preferably said rod 58 is notched and said bolt 88 is disposed in the notch whereby positively to secure the arcl..e; member in place.

As thus arranged the arcing members are arranged in pairs and the arcing members of each pair are supported rigidly and electrically connected by one of said rods 58, while all of said ar ing members are insulated from the supporting bracket 36 by the insulating sheaths {30.

The square crosssection of the insulated rods provides av construction which prevents the rotation of the rods or the arena members and consequently maintains said areing members at all times in proper alignment with each oth r and with the stationary arcing members. I

The arrangement also such that the current traverses the arcing members in series between the two stationar switch members and, when the movable and stationary arcing members are separate tour circuit-inter upting arcs will be drawn in series.

ene'aec it between sa' The current path through the switch s-;uhsequent to the se Jaration of the maii cooperating contacts is tln'ou 'h bracnet which is electrically co nee 18. c i'h one stathe stationary arcing member 22 and its cooperating movable arcing member t the cot K'Jtiilfj rod 58 which connects electrically with -the movable arcing member 72, through said member and its cooperating stationary LOlltiU't the ele.ctricall ,'-c ndueting bar 28, stationary arcing member 30 and its cozuwratino movable member 70, the second conducting bar 58 connecting contacts TO and (35%. the cooperating contacts 68 and 2+. and braclcct 2a to the outgoing stationary switch member.

l claim:

1. An electric switch baring a pair ot spaced st: tionary s ritch members. a. movable switch member including a rod disposed between said stationary switch members. a bride'in member *arried by the lower end of said rod below said stationary switch members and adapted to bridge them, a plurality of arcing members carried by said rod and disposed symmetricall about'and insulated from said bridging 2 iember. a corresponding plurality of stat onary arcing members cooperating with said merable arcing members and disposed symmetrically about said stationary switch members.

2. An electric switch having a pair of spaced stationary switch n1cmbers.a movable switch member inchulinp a rod disposed be.- tween and approximatel in the plam of said stationary switch members. a bridging member 'ar-ied by the lower end of said rod below and approximately in the plane of said stationary switch membe s and adapted to bridge them, a plurality of arcing members carried by said rod indepcmlent of said bridging member aml disposed symmetrically about said bridging member. a corresponding plurality of stationary arcing members cooperating with said movable arcing members and disposed symmetrically about said stationary switch members. each stationary switch member having a supporting and electrical connection with a stationary arcing member, and means electrically connecting said arcing members in series.

3. An electric switch having a pair of spaced stationary switch members. a pai of stationary arcing members disposed on the same side of said switch members and in spaced relation therewith and a so with each other and insulated, from each other. supporting means colmecting each arcing member with its cooperating switch me her, a second pair of stationary arcing members disposed on the opposite side 0t said stationary switch members. means electrically connecting said second pair oi? arcing members and supporting them in simced relation with each other and with saiz tionary switch members. and a um switch member including a rod disp tween said stationary switch bride-inn member -arried by the lower end of said rod below said stationary switch members and adapted to bridge then]. a plu- 'ality of arcing members carried by said rod below and arranged for cooperation with said stationary arcing members, and means electrically to connect certain of said movable arcing members.

4. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a vertically-disposed supporting member, a pair of horizontally-disposed insulating members carried by and on opposite sides of said supporting member, arcing members carried by both ends of each insulating member and 7 means electrically connecting said arcing members in pairs.

5. A movable switchmember for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member, a bridging member carried thereby, a pair of insulating members carried by and on opposite sides of said supporting member and disposed transversely of said bridging member, and electrically connected arcing members carried by the ends" of said insulating members.

6. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member, a pair of insulating members carried by said su porting member on opposite sides thereo arcing members carried by both ends of each insulating member, and

means electrically connecting said arcing.

members in pairs. I

7. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member, a. pair of insulatin members carried by said supporting mem er on opposite sides thereof, arcing members carried by both ends of each insulating member, and means carried by each insulating member arranged electrically to connect the arcing members thereof.

8. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member, a pair of insulating members carried by said supporting member on oppo site sides thereof, arcing members carried by the ends of said insulating members, and means disposed within said insulating members arranged electrically to connect certain of said arcing members.

9. A rectilinearly movable switch member for a mult-i-break electric switch comprising a'supporting member having a pair of oppositely-directed arms, an insulating member fixed to each of said arms, and arcing members fixed to both ends of each insulating member.

10. A rectilinearly movable switch member for a multi-break electric switch comprising a supporting member having a pair of oppositely-directed arms, an insulating member fixed to each of said arms, arcing members fixed to both ends of each insulating member. and means electrically connecting the arcing members of each insulatmg member.

the arcing members of each insulating member.

12. A movable switch member for a multi-break electric switch comprising a supporting member having a pair of oppositely-directed arms, a tubular insulating member fixed to each of said arms, conducting rodspassed through and extended beyond the ends of said tubular insulating members, and arcing members fixed to the extended ends of said rods.

13. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member having a pair of oppositely-di rect ed arms, an electrically conducting rod carried by each arm and extended on both sides thereof, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, and insulating means interposed between said rods and arms.

14. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member having two oppositely-directed sets of spaced arms, an insulating rod carried by each set of arms and extended transversely and on opposite sides thereof, arcried by each set of arms and extended transversely and on opposite sides thereof, areing members disposed at the ends of each rod, and means electrically connecting the arcing member of each rod.

16. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member having two oppositely-directed sets of spaced arms, an insulating rod carried by each set of arms and extended transversely and on opposite sides thereof, arcing members disposed at thecnds of each rod, and means electrically connecting the arcing member of each'rod comprising electrically conducting rods extended through said insulating rods and. connected with said arcing members.

17. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting member having two oppositely-directed sets of spaced arms, a tubular insulating rod carried by'each set of arms, and extended transversely and on opposite sides thereof, an electrically conducting rod extended through and beyond both ends of each tubuing members disposed at the ends of each I V :yond the and aroma members fixed to rods and extended outwardly 1). 3% ends ihol'eo,

the ends 01 F2 1d conducting rods.

. A mombic swxtch member for a mulh- 211d aux-i11 mon-rbel's car- 61165 of (12611 condu.

lovable swiath m 56d Withi ".QLL by 

